Police chief recovers from heart
attackBy
Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff WriterKEMP–Following triple-bypass heart surgery Friday, Jan. 19,
Kemp Police Chief Richard Arnold was recovering comfortably in a Tyler
hospital Monday with a possible release to home rest Wednesday.
Arnold was complaining of chest pains before lunch Jan. 17, at which time
paramedics were called. A decision was made to take him by ambulance to the
emergency room in Gun Barrel City.
He was transported on to the East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.
Medical tests conducted Thursday determined the amount of blockage that
caused the heart attack.
A triple bypass was scheduled for Friday morning.
Arnold was kept in ICU (intensive care unit) until Saturday, when he was
assigned to a room.
The 63-year-old chief was hired by the city of Kemp as a police officer June
29, 1998.
He was promoted to chief Nov. 14, 2000.
“We are all looking forward to a speedy and full recovery for the chief,”
James Stroman, Kemp city administrator said. “We look forward to having him
back at work.”
Richard Arnold

Saying good-bye to Jean Nichols
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–A standing-room-only crowd jammed into the First United Methodist
Church of Mabank sanctuary to celebrate the life of Jean Nichols.
Nichols, who would have turned 64 Jan. 30, died in a Dallas hospital early
Friday after a lengthy battle against cancer. For complete obituary
information, see page 9A.
A tireless volunteer for the American Cancer Society and many other causes,
Nichols was one of the primary architects in the effort to create a combined
chamber of commerce, and Monday’s gathering included many of the Cedar Creek
Lake area’s business and community leaders.
“Jean exemplified the spirit of our unified chamber of commerce, always with
remarkable grace and good humor,” chamber president Jo Ann Hanstrom said in
an e-mail announcing Nichols’ passing.
“She continued to be a strong voice and tireless volunteer for the chamber
of commerce, even while fighting the courageous and dignified battle for her
life,” Hanstrom added. “She will be missed.”
The combined chamber recognized Nichols with a Lifetime Achievement Award at
the 2004 “Taste of Cedar Creek Lake” event.
At the time, she was noted as having served on every available panel since
arriving in the area in 1986, and had previously been named by the Gun
Barrel City Chamber as the “Citizen of the Year.”
A bank officer, Nichols worked two sessions with Cedar Creek Bank, the
second as an administrative assistant to bank president Tom Carpenter
(1997-2004).
She also worked with the First National Bank of Gun Barrel City.
After Houston-based Franklin Bank purchased Cedar Creek Bank in 2004,
Nichols remained as a marketing/public relations officer.
“There was no more generous and gracious person than Jean. Her gift was to
make everyone feel special,” Dee Ann Owens, Franklin Bank employee and
friend for more than 20 years, said Monday.
The Rev. Glen Blackmon, First United Methodist Church minister and Nichols’
pastor, told the gathering Nichols was survived “by multitudes of people.”
Blackmon urged the crowd to look around.
“I don’t know where you go to church – this one is full,” he said. “That
says a lot.”
Blackmon recalled Nichols as one who “gives beyond what’s expected,”
comparing that to Christ’s love.
“You have a life that was shared to celebrate,” he told the gathering.
Turning to Nichols’ family, Blackmon said he could not ease their grieving,
but pointed out the Bible said it was okay to grieve.
“What Paul said was not to grieve as those without hope,” Blackmon said,
adding Jesus gave believers hope.
“Nowhere in the Scriptures will you find where Jesus presided at a funeral,”
he said. “He only did resurrections.
“I think that’s what she (Nichols) wants you to hear today,” he added.

Lone gunman robs convenience
storeBy
Pearl Cantrel
Monitor Staff Writer
SEVEN POINTS–Police are searching for a slender white male standing between
5-3 and 5-6, who robbed the Chevron Gas Station and Convenience Store on
State Highway 274 at the flashing traffic light in Seven Points.
Near 7:30 p.m. Monday, a lone gunman entered the store and instructed the
cashier to hand over all the cash. He exited the store on foot and got away
with an undisclosed amount.
Seven Points Police Chief Wayne Nutt said the suspect was armed with a
semi-automatic pistol, which discharged one bullet in the course of the
robbery.
No injuries were reported, and no one else was in the store at the time.
The suspect was wearing a baseball cap, camoflage coat and dark pants, and
had a bandana pulled up over much of his face during the robbery.
Convenience store owner Michael Cathey made no comments concerning the
robbery.